In the summer of 1960, when Ted Brautigan moves into the boarding house where 11-year-old Bobby Garfield lives with his mother Liz, his presence instantly captures Bobby's attention. Since Bobby's father died when he was 6, he is at first apprehensive of this strange man, but soon the two become friends. He asks Bobby to keep his eyes open and his senses sharp, for Ted has a magical power of insight which has led to him being hunted by shadowy figures. Meanwhile Bobby's life is changing too. His friendship with Carol has grown into something more. This is the last summer of his childhood and Bobby is becoming aware that there is a bigger and darker world out there. Soon, both Bobby and Ted are being threatened: Bobby by local bullies and Ted by the sinister figures who follow him...